Shania (http://plumella.blogspot.com
) asked me this in her comment on my last blog post. Yes, she does have a name,
more about this later….

Because of the fact she actually turned out to be a ‘failed’
doll, I've still decided to finish her and to include her into the household of
my canal house. While I painted her face and I discovered the scar, the thought
occured to me to make an extra aid in the household. The maid, her name is
Marie, would be glad with a pair of extra hands for doing all the work.

After I also noticed that her body shape was a little
crooked, one of her shoulders stands slightly higher, her life story became
more obvious to me.

I decided that my new doll was an orphan, who came out of
the orphanage. Madam had submitted a request to the director of the orphanage
to an aid in the household, who "was handy with the needle." Because
she also could do some of the mending and sewing work in the household.

She had let out the hem of her best dress, which she
received from the orphanage at her departure, because since the last year she
has grown so much. You can see still the discolored fabric. She also has
embroidered initials on the inside of her apron ;)!

She left after she got an extra apron (sewed by herself)
from the Mother of the orphanage, to put it in her bundle. Seeking for her way
through the big city she finally arrived at the big canal house at the canal
and she slowly climbed up the stairs. Standing on the high stoop she looked
behind her for seeing the neighbourhood of the house, which would become her
new ‘home’ after her arrival in this new household. What would she think….?
Finally she rang at the door.

After the maid, Marie, opened the door on the ‘beletage’ (http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel-etage_(verdieping)
) and she saw her standing on the stoop, she said to her to go downstairs to
the door for the staff and to wait there for her. Her first mistake……oh, dear!

My canal house is not yet finished on the inside, so I can’t
show my new aid in the household in a scene yet. But I will do that whenever I
can do this in the future :D!

I just had to change the name, which was much too difficult
to pronounce for my foreign readers ;)!! I decided to mention her Sientje,
which is a real Dutch name for a girl at that time of 1900-1920, wherein I have
placed my canalhouse.

Note for my foreign readers, who wants to know how to
pronounce her name, ‘Sientje’. 'Sien' (you pronounce this word like in English
the word ‘seen’). The addition of '-tje' (pronounced as the article ‘the’ ) is
in the Dutch language an addition for making a diminutive of the noun. I hope
it is clear to you?

Ik dank jullie allen voor jullie reacties. Voor wie het
viert...

...een fijne fleurige Moederdag toegewenst :D!!

I thank you all for your comments. Here in The Netherlands
it is Mother’s Day, so just in case:

36 opmerkingen:

Hi Ilona! You have given her a very pretty name and a very realistic story! I hope she will be happier in the Canal house than in the orphanage! Her clothes are wonderful... so detailed and accurate! I am glad you have kept her and given her a worthwhile place to live! (As you know, I like to know the stories of the little people!)Happy Mother's Day to you!

A very realistic background for your darling doll (who is no failure at all - don't say that again, she has personality, she has character and a story to tell... And after all - who is perfect without the help of Photoshop?) I really liked the story of her arrival and the explanation for the details in her clothes. Sien or Sientje is a lovely name, well chosen... Some time ago I won some cards with motifs from "Ot en Sien" in a giveaway Rosanna offered, so this name was familiar to me. I really hope we will get to learn more about Marie and Sientje soon!

You are very talented! And I love how you built up a whole story about this doll!! I come to like this doll more and more =) I have this pain in my shoulders, and at the hospital they saw that one of my shoulders now are slightly higher than the other, so I feel a special bond to this doll now =)Hannah

Ah, Ilona, your little maid is a wee darling, her story would bring a tear to your eye! I really hope she is going to have a happy life in the canal house, even if she has to work hard, I hope everyone is kind to her.Fabulous doll, I think she is perfect. :)All the best, Vivian

hello, I do not have much time to read the comments but I always look at your news. I'm worried about this girl. the beginning of his life is not a fairy tale :)) is that it will be well treated and respected in this big house? I hope she will find a little sweetness in this new work. I am much her apron and color of her dress. I wish him to have found a good place in honest bosses :))) I hope it will be well translated. I embrace you.

Hi Ilona! Thanks for Sientje's story! Poor girl, she's had a tough life already and things will be difficult for her at first in the Canal house but hopefully she will do well and life will get a little better!I look forward to seeing her progress.Thanks for the pronunciation lesson, it was perfectly clear!

I feel soulmates with Sientje! <3 It not even that long time ago when I made same mistake with doors. Well..30 years! :D But it wasn't my fault...I just didn't know about 'different' entries for 'different' people. I was only a young au pair girl! The world teaches! :DWe also had Mother's Day last Sunday. :) I wish you had a lovely day and now I hope the sun shine to your days. Hugs

What a wonderful doll Ilona, certainly not a failure!! I love the story you've created for her, I'm sure she's going to be much happier in the canal house than she was at the orphanage. I'm looking forward to seeing her in her new home :) Love and hugs Vicky

Hi Ilona! I love a good story and you have told this one sooooo well! I am glad that she is not to be left abandoned in the orphanage but will get an opportunity to begin a new chapter in a household that will welcome and appreciate her considerable sewing skills. Scar or no scar, crooked or not she has a face full of personality and I am glad that she has been hired! I wish her many happy hours as she comes to call the canal house -HOME